John Locke (1632-1704) was an English philosopher who is most commonly known as the "Father of Classical Liberalism" for his works on politics, education and the "Natural Rights of Man". Locke was born in the town of Wrington, Somerset, England. Locke was born into a puritan family.
Because of his father and his father's connections with the english government, Locke received the best education at the time. Locke attended the Westminster School in London in 1647. Here, Locke earned the title King's Scholar. From here, Locke moved on to attend Christ Church in 1652. At Christ Church he was introduced to foreign languages, metaphysics, and was taught logic. Locke also studied medicine. During his time at Christ Church he started writing about philosophy. Some topics he wrote about were political philosophy, education and epistemology. Locke graduated from Christ church in 1656, but in just two years he came back to get his master in arts.[1] Locke spent many years as a physician working for his dear friend, Anthony Cooper. But he turned from being a physician to spend more time on his philosophy.[2] His philosophy writings would later influence and impact the most important political topics and events in history.
School of Thought
John Locke expressed the idea that all human beings from birth were entitled to equality, life, liberty, and property. Locke was influenced by Thomas Hobbes and his philosophy, but he did not agree with Hobbes's ideas that stood for a complete monarch. Locke spent most of his time contradicting Hobbes's writing. Locke proposed that the government serves their people and if the government fails to uphold individual rights then the people have the right to rebel. Locke's ideas were so radical that even he was afraid to take ownership for some of his work. These ideas struck the interest of libertarians during the american revolution. John locke began to work alongside Algernon Sidney, another philosopher who believed in individual rights. Locke's writings went on to influence Thomas Paine, George Mason, and James Madison. All of these people who were influenced by John Locke wrote philosophy on liberalism and shaped the way people thought about the American Revolution. Locke's published ideas paved the way to the enlightenment and developed liberalism.
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Major Writings
In 1690 John Locke wrote his famous work called, Two Treatises of Government, in this his most impactable ideas were introduced and explained. He composes his concerns of toleration by introducing his prominent ideas of natural law and natural rights. He writes about the controversy in the differences between natural right and natural law. His point about natural right was that anything God- given is undeniable, so any state or King or government or that denies or limits or refuses that which God gives is immoral and should be removed. Natural law means that all human beings are accountable to be moral citizens of the governments law. Locke explains in this piece of work that citizens of a state are free to do whatever they please as long as its "within the bounds of the law of nature". With just the belief of natural rights the state of civilization would be a state of destruction and rioting. This solves the controversy between natural law and natural rights by declaring that natural rights are limited to the respects of other citizens to guarantee the states peace and the citizens safety. Another major writing by Locke is, An Essay Concerning the True Original Extent and End of Civil Government. Here, in this piece of work Locke justifies for a civil government. Locke wrote this to justify the belief that a democracy is more effective and justified.
Influenced by/ Legacy
John locke was first influenced by the philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, to prove his ideas and research were wrong. Most of Locke's writings were based on contradicting Hobbes's writings. Hobbes believed in a complete monarch and Locke believed in a democracy. In locke's most famous writing, Two Treatises of Government, he contradicts Hobbes's belief of having only Natural rights and Locke believes in natural law to balance out Natural rights. Locke was also influenced by Robert Filmer to prove his belief that political authority came from religious authority was wrong.
Locke and his ideas influenced what human rights would be like in the generations after him. He paved way to the enlightenment and gave the revolution a new outlook. With his writings and philosophy he gave structure to modern governments.
Further Reading
To further your reading you can go to these sources:
Biography
John Locke (1632-1704) was an English philosopher who is most commonly known as the "Father of Classical Liberalism" for his works on politics, education and the "Natural Rights of Man". Locke was born in the town of Wrington, Somerset, England. Locke was born into a puritan family.
Because of his father and his father's connections with the english government, Locke received the best education at the time. Locke attended the Westminster School in London in 1647. Here, Locke earned the title King's Scholar. From here, Locke moved on to attend Christ Church in 1652. At Christ Church he was introduced to foreign languages, metaphysics, and was taught logic. Locke also studied medicine. During his time at Christ Church he started writing about philosophy. Some topics he wrote about were political philosophy, education and epistemology. Locke graduated from Christ church in 1656, but in just two years he came back to get his master in arts.[1] Locke spent many years as a physician working for his dear friend, Anthony Cooper. But he turned from being a physician to spend more time on his philosophy.[2] His philosophy writings would later influence and impact the most important political topics and events in history.
School of Thought
John Locke expressed the idea that all human beings from birth were entitled to equality, life, liberty, and property. Locke was influenced by Thomas Hobbes and his philosophy, but he did not agree with Hobbes's ideas that stood for a complete monarch. Locke spent most of his time contradicting Hobbes's writing. Locke proposed that the government serves their people and if the government fails to uphold individual rights then the people have the right to rebel. Locke's ideas were so radical that even he was afraid to take ownership for some of his work. These ideas struck the interest of libertarians during the american revolution. John locke began to work alongside Algernon Sidney, another philosopher who believed in individual rights. Locke's writings went on to influence Thomas Paine, George Mason, and James Madison. All of these people who were influenced by John Locke wrote philosophy on liberalism and shaped the way people thought about the American Revolution. Locke's published ideas paved the way to the enlightenment and developed liberalism.=[3]
Major Writings
In 1690 John Locke wrote his famous work called, Two Treatises of Government, in this his most impactable ideas were introduced and explained. He composes his concerns of toleration by introducing his prominent ideas of natural law and natural rights. He writes about the controversy in the differences between natural right and natural law. His point about natural right was that anything God- given is undeniable, so any state or King or government or that denies or limits or refuses that which God gives is immoral and should be removed. Natural law means that all human beings are accountable to be moral citizens of the governments law. Locke explains in this piece of work that citizens of a state are free to do whatever they please as long as its "within the bounds of the law of nature". With just the belief of natural rights the state of civilization would be a state of destruction and rioting. This solves the controversy between natural law and natural rights by declaring that natural rights are limited to the respects of other citizens to guarantee the states peace and the citizens safety. Another major writing by Locke is, An Essay Concerning the True Original Extent and End of Civil Government. Here, in this piece of work Locke justifies for a civil government. Locke wrote this to justify the belief that a democracy is more effective and justified.
Influenced by/ Legacy
John locke was first influenced by the philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, to prove his ideas and research were wrong. Most of Locke's writings were based on contradicting Hobbes's writings. Hobbes believed in a complete monarch and Locke believed in a democracy. In locke's most famous writing,Two Treatises of Government, he contradicts Hobbes's belief of having only Natural rights and Locke believes in natural law to balance out Natural rights. Locke was also influenced by Robert Filmer to prove his belief that political authority came from religious authority was wrong.
Locke and his ideas influenced what human rights would be like in the generations after him. He paved way to the enlightenment and gave the revolution a new outlook. With his writings and philosophy he gave structure to modern governments.
Further Reading
To further your reading you can go to these sources:Retreived from https://www.biography.com/people/john-locke-9384544
Powell, J. (1996, August 1). John Locke: Natural rights to Life, Liberty, and Property. In Free foundation for Economic Education. Retrieved January 25, 2018, from https://fee.org/articles/john-locke-natural-rights-to-life-liberty-and-property/#0